August 16, 2006

In the most recent issue of Food Facts Asia from the Asian Food Information Centre, tips for safe eating of poultry and poultry products during the current worldwide bird flu pandemic are highlighted. The outbreak of avian influenza has raised many questions amongst consumers regarding the safety of eating poultry and poultry products. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international organisations have confirmed that it is safe to continue to eat chicken and other poultry products, provided basic good hygiene practices are followed and that the food products are fully cooked or processed. The article on eating safely during bird flu provides  handy hints that enable consumers to continue to enjoy the consumption of  poultry and poultry products during this time.

Also included in this issue of Food Facts Asia is an article on sweetened foods and dental health. While many people are aware that artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes such as aspartame are low in calories and helpful for diabetics, few know that artificial sweeteners can also play a role in reducing dental caries and thereby contribute to better oral health along with regular brushing and visits to the dentist. The article “Keeping Your Smile Sweet” discusses the benefits of sweeteners or sugar substitutes as well as providing some key advice on ways to protect oral health.

Finally, biotechnology is an issue that many of us have difficulty understanding, partly because of the complexity of the issue itself, but also because the information communicated on the subject is sometimes too “jargonistic” or scientific for us to understand. Additionally information about biotechnology is often not presented within the context of everyday life, and how or what it really truly means for ordinary citizens. Adopting a sound communications approach using non-scientific language when communicating biotechnology information would not only enable us to understand, but also to appreciate the issue itself and in turn, allow us to make more informed choices about the food we eat and potential impacts on our health. The latest issue of Food Facts Asia offers some insights into how communications on biotechnology can be improved.

Food Facts Asia is published 3 times a year by the Asian Food Information Centre for the media and other professionals with responsibilities for communicating food and health information to consumers. The newsletter provides a balanced, scientific and easy to understand perspective on key health and food safety issues. A printed copy of Food Facts Asia has been mailed to all subscribers, and electronic versions of the complete issue and individual articles in English, Thai and Chinese can be accessed at www.afic.org.